- Published
Every time you click "buy" on an online order, the chances are that your purchase starts getting processed within minutes.
asserted
purchase → publish → minutes
Increasingly, the journey starts with a squat silver floor robot gliding beneath a storage rack, lifting a shelf and carrying it across a warehouse to a waiting worker.
asserted
journey → start → worker
At Geek+'s factory in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, which the BBC visited, fleets of the robots are built and tested before being shipped to warehouses around the world.
asserted
fleets → visit → world
Some of Britain's biggest retailers - including Tesco, Asda and Next - now use the company's technology.
asserted
Some → include → technology
By automating these repetitive journeys, Geek+ says retailers can increase picking speeds, store more goods in spaces that are hard to reach for humans, and reduce errors.
asserted
that → automate → errors
Unlike traditional warehouse automation, which relies on fixed conveyor systems and permanent infrastructure, autonomous mobile robots can be deployed simply using QR code floor markers and safety fencing.
asserted
robots → rely → markers
Geek+, which listed in Hong Kong last year in one of the biggest robotics share sales of 2025, has become the world's largest supplier of autonomous mobile robots.
asserted
which → list → robots
The UK has struggled with weak productivity growth for more than a decade, and economists say wider adoption of robotics will be essential if businesses are to become more efficient.
asserted
businesses → struggle → robotics
In its 2026 report SME Technology Adoption in the United Kingdom, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said technologies like robotics would be key to improving productivity.
asserted
technologies → say → productivity
According to the OECD, Britain's low adoption of robotics is "surprising" given its manufacturing heritage, noting that while UK firms have embraced mature digital technologies, they lag behind in robotics and automation.
uncertain
they → accord → robotics
That presents an opportunity for companies such as Geek+.
asserted
That → present → Geek+
The UK has one of Europe's largest e-commerce and logistics sectors, but many warehouses are still in the early stages of automation.
asserted
warehouses → have → automation
Britain has already become Geek+'s biggest European market, with UK partner MotionTech deploying more than 2,000 robots across 10 warehouse sites.
asserted
MotionTech → become → sites
"Customers want fast deployable solutions," says Barry Pemberton, Account Director at MotionTech.
asserted
Pemberton → want → MotionTech
"They want high volume, high storage, fast picking... ultimately on a smaller footprint with a reduced headcount."
asserted
They → want → headcount
"We seem to have a very big shortage of labour in the UK at the moment.
asserted
We → seem → moment
These technologies are really important to keep businesses thriving and meet demand."
asserted
technologies → keep → demand
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents almost 6 million UK workers, says robotics should be used to raise productivity and improve jobs, rather than simply cut labour costs.
asserted
robotics → represent → costs
In its response to the government's consultation on a new AI and innovation strategy, it urged ministers to ensure workers are involved in decisions about automation and that employers invest in retraining.
asserted
employers → urge → retraining
"Working with technologists, workers and unions can help steer the UK's research and innovation towards workers' priorities for automation... avoiding job-cutting, low-productivity automation," the TUC said in its report.
asserted
TUC → work → report
How China became a robotics leader
Robotics has become a strategic priority for Beijing under President Xi Jinping's drive to develop what he calls "new quality productive forces".
asserted
he → become → what
With China's working-age population shrinking, policymakers increasingly see automation as essential to boosting productivity and maintaining the country's manufacturing advantage.
asserted
policymakers → work → advantage
"The robotics story builds directly on China's electric vehicle ecosystem," says Kyle Chan, a researcher at the Brookings Institution.
asserted
Chan → build → Institution
Batteries, electric motors, cameras, sensors and semiconductors developed for electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly being used across China's robotics sector, creating what he describes as "overlapping industrial ecosystems".
asserted
he → develop → ecosystems
One company leading that crossover is Chinese EV maker XPeng, which unveiled its humanoid robot, Iron, last year.
asserted
which → lead → robot
Founder He Xiaopeng says he no longer sees XPeng simply as a carmaker.
asserted
he → say → carmaker
"We want XPeng to be a high-tech company," he told the BBC.
asserted
he → want → BBC
"In the future, any car company will transform into a car and robotics company."
asserted
company → transform → company
Analysts say China's robotics push could follow a similar path as its global EV success, with local players using manufacturing prowess, dense supplier networks and rapid product development to establish an early lead.
uncertain
players → say → lead
"China is deliberately trying to build on some of those strengths," says Chan.
asserted
Chan → try → strengths
"As it reaches into new areas, from humanoid robots to industrial robots to delivery robots.
asserted
it → reach → robots
Tesla is pursuing a similar vision with its Optimus robot, which Elon Musk has said could eventually become a bigger business than carmaking.
But
uncertain
Musk → pursue → carmaking
China's ambitions to dominate the global robotics industry was dealt a blow this week when the US banned the import of new foreign-made advanced robots, citing national security.
asserted
US → dominate → security
The Chinese embassy in Washington responded to the move by saying that Beijing has long opposed the US' "politicising" of trade issues and sanctions based on "groundless pretexts".
asserted
Beijing → respond → pretexts
The Chinese-made robots now operating in British warehouses are designed to solve the problem of moving goods.
asserted
robots → make → goods
Geek+ says the company's next goal is to automate everything else.
asserted
goal → say → everything
"We are working on... end-to-end unmanned warehouse solutions," says Yanyu Liu, head of communications at Geek+.
asserted
Liu → work → Geek+
That means automating picking, handling and eventually packing goods.
asserted
That → mean → goods
Across China, companies including AgiBot and Unitree are investing billions in humanoid robots.
asserted
companies → include → robots
If wheeled robots move goods cheaply, reliably and efficiently or robots with just arms can do the other automated tasks, what problem does a humanoid solve?
asserted
humanoid → wheel → problem
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
